Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jean Arp Reflected in Jean Arp

I've alway had a keen interest in abstact sculpture. When it's at it's best, it moves me as much as a beautiful figure group. I've known of Jean Arp since I was a young child visiting the MOMA with my mom. There always seems to be a distillation of form in his work, languid and sweeping and best in my mind as pollished stone.

In this study I set out to learn a couple of things. Firstly, how difficult would it be to sculpt some of favorite modern sculptures in Zbrush. Everyone working in this program seems to go after classical statues. In my searching, I found no examples of more modern works being paid such homage. In that, I felt that it was a perfect opportunity to give it a shot and see if I could find something new.

Secondly, I needed a lesson in reflection mapping. While researching Jean Arp's works, I found many examples not only of his sculptures but, his designs and paintings as well, all playful with a beautiful economy to their design. Though the original piece is polished green granite, it occurred to me that his painting would serve well as a reflection map. I knew that I could count on beautiful distortions as the paintings wrap themselves around forms that they were never meant to. In the animation, the distortions never stop.